LONG awaited coach parking in Okehampton's Mill Road Car Park has been formally approved by West Devon Borough Council. The council has approved the provision of free coach parking for two coaches in the car park and that the Off-Street Car Parking Order be amended accordingly to formalise the spaces, which were painted in place several months ago. Following the decision to amend the parking order, there will be a 21-day public consultation period where residents and interested parties can share their views. In recent months, the borough council has been working with Okehampton Town Council and the Okehampton Vision group to bring plans for coach parking into fruition. Following the demolition of the toilet block in the borough council's car park on Mill Road, three coach spaces were painted in the car park. The preliminary work was carried out in the hope that coach parking would be available for the main holiday season. It now should be available in time for the school summer holidays. The county councillor for Okehampton Rural division Cllr Kevin Ball, said: 'I am pleased that the parking has been formally approved and the decision was vindicated by the full council. Spaces for visiting tourist coaches is something that the town has been missing for quite some time.

'I know that some members of the community have been opposed to the project. Our desire has always been to bring benefit to the town, and hopefully coaches carrying tourists will use these bays and bring much needed footfall to the town. The project will be monitored, and if any issues do arise, then they will be dealt with accordingly.' Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade has campaigned for 15 years to see coach parking return to the town. Chamber chairperson Donna Tombs said it was 'great news' that the bays had now been formalised in time for the summer season. She said: 'The Chamber has worked with the town council and the borough council to make sure the space in the car park is used as best it can be, and I think now we are at a stage where it is. 'It is great news, and while in an ideal world we would have more spaces in a slightly better spot, it is definitely better than nothing. Hopefully it will help bring tourists into the town, and improve things for businesses here. 'Sometimes people want the perfect solution to a problem when it isn't always available. This is good news, with two coach spaces back in the town. It is something Okehampton has needed for a long time, and it is certainly a very good thing to see it happen.' The borough council has talked to the business located at the entrance to the car park and arranged alternative parking for its vehicles. Engineers assessed the suitability of the site, and a coach driver also worked with the borough council to carry out testing which involved driving onto the site and parking up. The work carried out thus far to paint the bays, and to remove the third bay is £1,200. At least half of this amount will be reimbursed by Devon County Councillor's Locality Funds. The cost of amending the parking order would also be approximately £1,200, to be met by the service budget. To find out more about the plans, e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] • What are your thoughts on the scheme? Get in touch and let us know at [email protected]">[email protected]